Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul suspended with immediate effect

The BCCI has issued the following press release yesterday. The CoA in accordance with the BCCI has decided to suspend Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul from playing any form of cricket after their comments on a TV show. The duo will now return to India and an enquiry and proceedings will be made against them for misconduct and indiscipline that have been initiated under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution that states as under:-

• In terms of Rule 41(6) of the BCCI Constitution, the players are hereby suspended with immediate effect from participating in any manner whatsoever in any match or function or event or activity that is authorized, organized, sanctioned, recognized or supported in any way by the BCCI, the ICC or any State Association, until final adjudication of the matter.

The CoA first sent out a notice to both players concerned to which the players responded with an apology. After considering their reply, it was decided that the BCCI would proceed against both for misconduct and indiscipline. The duo is now called upon to provide an explanation as to why they should not be proceeded against for misconduct and indiscipline under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution within a period of 7 (seven) days. This is without prejudice to the BCCI’s rights and contentions, all of which are hereby expressly reserved. The All-India Senior Selection Committee will soon name their replacements for the ODI series against Australia and the tour to New Zealand.

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Since then, the senior selection committee has announced replacing Pandya and KL Rahul with Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar for India's ongoing ODI series vs Australia. India are currently down a game in the series after losing to Australia by 34 runs on Saturday. This is 19-year Shubman Gill's first appearance for the senior side. Saturday also reported a divide between CoA members Vinod Rai and Diana Edulji over how best to proceed with the situation. While Rai spoke in favour of a quick enquiry, Edulji clashed saying that due process must be followed. It is interesting to note here that “We must take a view by the time second ODI gets over as we cannot afford to debilitate team strength due to delinquent behaviour on the part of some player,” said Rai in an email as quoted by PTI. “We should be in no hurry to conduct the inquiry as it would then look like a cover up job being done,” Edulji wrote in her email response.